Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-01-13
QUEER SUPERSTITIONS.
Life on the Maryland Peninsula. Belief in the
Supernatural Taking Possession of Whites as
Well as Blacks.

A belief IN supernatural and IN forecast
ing of events by the Specification of signs
and omens is not, as is generally suppos-
ed, restricted entirely to the negro
race of the Maryland and Delaware
peninsula. Superstition is prevalent to q
considerable degree among the whites,
and it is a curious fact that in many
families where wealth and intelligence
predominant an implicit belief is placed
in signs and tokens and what they per-
tend. They are sincere in this belief,
and will cite numerous instances where 4
mysterious knock upon the door, the
startling rafting of the window sash
when the air was calm and serene, or the
dismal bowling of dog have been fol-
lowed by "bad luck" to give apparent
strength to it.
Among the white laboring classes
superstition holds their minds with q
wonderful power. Any strange phenom
ena in the heavens, any abnormal con-
dition OF the weather, or any unusual
commotion on land or sea, each have
their own significance, and, while they all
exercise an undue influence upon the
minds of their people, each one formu-
lates his or her own opinion and draw
their own personal conclusions as to the
probable sequence Of their signs. A lady,
venerable in years, prominent in society,
living in affiunce, and residing in Mary
land town, once dismissed a most dear
and intimate acquaintance with a severe
reprimand for trenching upon her ideas
with regard to this belief The subject
of superstition was under discussion and
large circle of friends were present.
This lady friend was rediculing such be-
= of I.
was commented upon adversely by several
other members of the company. But the
hostess was invulnerable to their attacks
and numerous puns, and good-naturedly
reputed them by several incidents which
occurred which were in fresh recoIIec-
ton by all present, and incidentally
mentioned her horror of person looking
over her shoulder while she was standing
before looking glass.
The evening wore on and when the
company was about to disperse the hos
tess arose to arrange her hair before
small toilet looking glass. Her friend
came up behind her suddenly and peered
over her shoulder. A remarkable tableau
ensued. With blanched features, the
hostess threw up her hands, and with a
wild shrek fell swooning to the floor.
and when she recovered consciousness
she arose to her feet nervous and timor-
Gus. Pointing her finger at her hereto
fore bosom friend, she said in a firm
voice:
eve are friends no more. Col"
Expostulation was utterly useless; she
would listen to no explanation, and with
q wounded heart and face bathed in tears
fho Io1
CURED twenty years ago. They have
never exchanged words since. By
strange coincidence of circumstances a
month or so afterward intelligence of the
death of the only brother of the hostess
was received.
On the first day of the New Year the
negro is debarred the privilege of enter
ing white PERSONS house, as their pres
ence is regarded as an omen of bad luck
throughout the entire year. Woe be to
any person with a black skin who crosses
the threshold of white mans house on
the first day of the New Year.
A negro came near paying the penalty
of his forgetfulness in this respect with
his life. He started in the gate of his
house, and was advancing toward the
door when he was confronted by the angry
and resolute occupant, who stood ready
to receive him with a woOd-ax. The
frightened negro suddenly collected his
senses, and remembering the day TUNED
to fee. AS he did so the ak vas hurled
after him and went whizzing over his
head, and the helye knocking his hat
off.
There is to-day living in Lower Della
ware an old gentleman, once conspicuous
in public life, who constantly keeps his
gun charged with the old fashioned three
cent pieces, who has an implicit belief
in their virtue to destroy the power of
negro con urers when fired at them.
There are several more who keep their
revolvers loaded with the same metal for
the same purpose. Why the annihilating
qualities of silver are more superior to
lead or gold they cannot tell. Yet they
are profoundly sincere in their belief
that volley of the jingllng metal fired
at or into, the body of a niurer,
will dissolve his mysterious power and
will prevent him from committing any
harm.
Superstition in the pegro is proverb-
ial. We can easily understand that the
root from which springs his absurd ideas
is ignorance. But why should it hold
men and women of brilliant minds, and
of high social distinction in its grasp is
question we cannot answer.
In some parts eff Maryland the peo-
pie will not have the house leek, Il small
green plant bearing pink flower upon
their premises. This plant blooms &C
cording to their theory, but once in sew
en- years, and should one of them be in
or near the house at the time of bloom
ing, when the tiny bud begins to develop
some one will be taken sick, and if it con-
tinues to expand they will grow worse,
and when it has bloomed into the per-
feet flower they will die.
Another superstition characteristic of
this plant is that SO long as anyone car
ries leaf with them adversely will be
close at their heels.
There are countless numbers of signs
and omens of ill-luck, sickness death,
disappointment, ETC., that make a cur
ious and interesting category. The
bowling of dog is sure sign of death,
and when throwing your shoes on the
floor should they turn upside down, the
grim spectre will claim some member of
the family ere the year has passed. The
dropping of a dish rag foretells the com